Process for preparing 1,2-propanediol derivative compounds

ABSTRACT

A novel glycerol derivative, a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a triazole derivative. An optically active 2-arylglycerol derivative which is novel and useful as a synthetic intermediate of medicament is provided, and furthermore, (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol, which is useful as an antifungal agent, is prepared.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/553,558 filed Dec. 18,1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,472, which is a §371 national phase ofinternational application PCT/JP 95/00749 filed Apr. 17, 1995.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a novel glycerol derivative and aprocess for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a triazolederivative. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel glycerolderivative, being useful as a raw material for synthesizing amedicament, an agricultural chemical or the like and a process forpreparing the same and a process for preparing a triazole derivative.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, a compound useful as a raw material of a medicament orbiologically active substance has been variously studied. However, therewas no suitable compound from various viewpoint of economy and industry,according to demands for a glycerol derivative and an acetone derivativewhich can be used as a raw material for synthesizing a medicament, anagricultural chemical or the like. For instance,1-chloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxypropane is synthesized bycarrying out ring closure of epoxide using1,3-dichloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol in the presence of sodiumhydride in dimethylformamide, in Japanese Unexamined Patent PublicationNo. 9183/1993. However, this reaction had problems in industriallycarrying out the reaction such as evolution of hydrogen and difficultremoval of dimethylformamide after completion of the reaction.

Thus, the compounds which satisfy the various demands such as an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol and a 1,3-diacyloxyacetone being thecompounds of the present invention have not been synthesized until now,and there is no existing knowledge as to the preparation thereof. Also,there is no report that the optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII):##STR1## has been synthesized or isolated. The above-mentioned compoundsof the formula (VIII) including a2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol wherein an aryl groupis 2,4-difluorophenyl group are novel compounds, and the industrialprocess for preparing the same have not been established at present.Further, there is not disclosure as to an optically active compoundrepresented by the formula (IX): ##STR2## and a process for preparingthe same, and thus these compounds are novel compounds. Then, a resultof the continuous effort of the present inventors as to a glycerolderivative and an acetone derivative which can be used as a raw materialfor synthesizing a medicament, a biologically active substance or thelike and a process for preparing the same; a novel glycerol derivative,a novel acetone derivative and novel processes for preparing the samehave been established. According to the present invention, there can bealso easily prepared the optically active 2-aryl-2,3-epoxy-1-propanolbeing an intermediate for synthesizing a medicament, which was hithertosynthesized by subjecting to cyclization, in the presence of a base, andhydrolysis from an 2-aryl-2-propenol by the of complecated Sharplessepoxidation reaction (ref. the specification of European Patent No.0539938) and the like. Also, a novel process for preparing a triazolederivative being a compound useful as an intermediate of an antifungalagent (ref. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9183/1993 and thespecification of European Patent No. 539938). Furthermore, an2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol represented by the formula (III): ##STR3## isa novel compound, and a process for synthesizing the same is also novel.The present inventors also estabilished processes for preparing thosecompounds.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel1,3-diacyloxyacetone, an optically active 2-arylglycerol derivativewhich are useful are as a raw material of a medicament or a biologicallyactive substance and processes for preparing them, and a novel processfor preparing an intermediate for an existing medicament.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanolcompound represented by the formula (I): ##STR4## wherein Ar is an arylgroup which may be substituted, R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group which may be substituted, a normal chain or branched chainalkenyl group which may be substituted or an aryl group which may besubstituted.

Herein, the above compound wherein R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or phenyl group; further theabove compound wherein R is methyl, chloromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl,n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, β-chloroethylor γ-chloropropyl group and the above compound wherein Ar is2,4-difluorophenyl group are preferable, and the compound wherein Ar isphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl,4-biphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl,2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 1-naphthylor 2-naphthyl group, R is isopropyl group is more preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol compound represented by the formula (I):##STR5## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted, R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may be substituted, anormal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may be substituted oran aryl group which may be substituted, which comprises allowing toreact

2,4-difluorophenyllithium,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium chloride,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium iodide,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium bromide,

phenylmagnesium bromide,

4-fluorophenylmagnesium bromide,

4-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide,

4-methylphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-biphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-tert-butylphenylmagnesium bromide,

2-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide,

2-methylphenylmagnesium bromide,

2,4-dichlorophenylmagnesium iodide,

2,4-dimethylphenylmagnesium bromide,

1-naphthylmagnesium bromide or 2-naphtylmagnesium bromide with acompound represented by the formula (II): ##STR6## wherein R is the sameas the defined above.

Herein, the above process wherein R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or phenyl group; further theabove process wherein R is methyl, chloromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl,n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, β-chloroethylor γ-chloropropyl group; and the process wherein Ar is2,4-difluorophenyl group are preferable, and the above process whereinAr is phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl,4-methoxyphenyl, 4-biphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl,2-methylphenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl,2,4-dimethylphenyl, 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl group, R is isopropyl groupis more preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol compound represented by the formula (I):##STR7## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted, R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may be substituted, anormal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may be substituted oran aryl group which may be substituted, which comprises carrying outposition-specifically 1,3-diacylation by allowing to react a compoundrepresented by the formula (IV): ##STR8## wherein R is the same as thedefined above, X¹ is a halogen atom, a normal chain or branched chainacyloxy group or a normal chain or branched chain alkoxy group with anaryl-1,2,3-propanol represented by the formula (III): ##STR9## whereinAr is the same as the defined above.

Herein, the above process wherein R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or phenyl group, X¹ is ahalogen atom, a normal chain or branched chain acyloxy group having 1 to11 carbon atoms or a normal chain or branched chain alkoxy group having1 to 5 carbon atoms; further the above process wherein R is methyl,chloromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl,isopropyl, isobutyl, β-chloroethyl or γ-chloropropyl group, X¹ isacetoxy, chloroacetoxy, propionyloxy, n-butyryloxy, n-pentanoyloxy,n-hexanoyloxy, n-heptanoyloxy, n-octanoyloxy, isobutyryloxy,isopentanoyloxy, β-chloropropionyloxy, γ-chlorobutyryloxy, benzoyloxy,chlorine atom, bromine atom, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propyloxy orisopropyloxy group are preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process process for preparing a1-chloro-2-aryl-2,3-epoxypropane represented by the formula (VI):##STR10## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted, whichcomprises treating a 1,3-dichloro-2-aryl-2-propanol represented by theformula (V): ##STR11## wherein Ar is the same as the defined above witha base.

Herein, the above process wherein lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxideor sodium hydroxide is employed as a base is preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I):##STR12## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted, and R isa normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may be substituted, anormal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may be substituted oran aryl group which may be substituted, which comprises allowing toreact a 1-chloro-2-aryl-2,3-epoxypropane represented by the formula(VI): ##STR13## wherein Ar is the same as the defined above with acarboxylic acid represented by the formula (VII):

    RCOOH                                                      (VII)

wherein R is the same as the defined above and its salt.

Herein, the above process wherein R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or phenyl group; further theabove process wherein R is methyl, chloromethyl, ethyl, n-propyl,n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, β-chloroethylor γ-chloropropyl group; and the above process wherein a salt ofcarboxylic acid is an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt oran amine salt of carboxylic acid; further the above process wherein asalt of carboxylic acid is lithium salt, sodium salt, potassium salt,magnesium salt, calcium salt, ammonium salt, trimethylammonium salt,triethylammonium salt, tetramethylammonium salt or tetraethylammoniumsalt of carboxylic acid are preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a 1,3-diacyloxyacetone compoundrepresented by the formula (II): ##STR14## wherein R is a normal chainor branched chain alkyl group which may be substituted, a normal chainor branched chain alkenyl group which may be substituted or an arylgroup which may be substituted.

Herein, the compound of the above 1,3-diacyloxyacetone wherein R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;further the above compound of the 1,3-diacyloxyacetone wherein R isethyl, n-butyl, n-hexyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, chloromethyl,β-chloroethyl or γ-chloropropyl group are preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a1,3-diacyloxyacetone represented by the formula (II): ##STR15## whereinR is a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may besubstituted or a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which maybe substituted or an aryl group which may be substituted, whichcomprises allowing to react 1,3-dihydroxyacetone with a compoundrepresented by the formula (IV): ##STR16## wherein R is the same as thedefined above, X¹ is a halogen, a normal chain or branched chain acyloxygroup or a normal chain or branched chain alkoxy group.

Herein, the above process wherein R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X¹ is a halogen or a normalchain or branched chain acyloxy group having 1 to 11 carbon atoms;further the compound of claim 24 wherein R is chloromethyl, ethyl,n-butyl, n-hexyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, β-chloroethyl or γ-chloropropyl,X¹ is chloroacetoxy, propionyloxy, n-pentanoyloxy, n-heptanoyloxy,isobutyryloxy, isopentanoyloxy, β-chloropropionyloxy,γ-chloro-butyryloxy, chlorine atom or bromine atom are preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to an optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol compound represented by the formula(VIII): ##STR17## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted,R is a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may besubstituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may besubstituted or an aryl group which may be substituted.

Herein, the above compound represented by the formula (VIIIa): ##STR18##wherein Ar is 2,4-difluorophenyl group, R is a normal chain or branchedchain alkyl group, or phenyl group; further the compound wherein R ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl,isopropyl, isobutyl, chloromethyl, β-chloroethyl or γ-chloropropylgroup; and the compound represented by the formula (VIIIb): ##STR19##wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted wherein R isisopropyl group; further the compound wherein Ar is phenyl,4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl,4-biphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl,2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 1-naphthylor 2-naphthyl group are preferable.

Also, the present invention relate to a process for preparing anoptically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy- 1,2-propanediol, which comprisesallowing to act a microorganism or an enzyme having enzyme activitywhich allow to form an optically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediolrepresented by the formula (VIII): ##STR20## wherein Ar is an aryl groupwhich may be substituted, R is a normal chain or branched chain alkylgroup, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may besubstituted or an aryl group which may be substituted by stereospecifichydrolysis of an 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by theformula (I): ##STR21## wherein each of Ar and R is the same as each ofthe defined above, on an 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented bythe formula (I) and allowing to form an optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII).

Herein, the above process wherein Ar is 2,4-difluorophenyl group, R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group, or phenyl group; further theabove process wherein R is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl,n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, chloromethyl, β-chloroethyl orγ-chloropropyl group are preferable, and the above process wherein R isisopropyl group and the above process wherein Ar is phenyl,4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl,4-biphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl,2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-difluorophenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 1-naphthylor 2-naphthyl group are more preferable.

Additionally, the above process wherein the microorganism or enzymewhich hydrolyzes stereospecifically is a member selected from the groupconsisting of the microorganism belonging to Chromobacterium genus,Rhizopus genus, Mucor genus, Candida genus, Aspergillus genus,Geotrichum genus, Pseudomonas genus, Bacillus genus or Humicola genus,the enzyme derived from that microorganism and the enzyme derived fromporcine pancreas; the alone process wherein the stereospecifichydrolysis is carried out in the presence of an organic solvent; theprocess process wherein the stereospecific hydrolysis is carried out at15° C. or below; and the above process wherein the stereospecifichydrolysis is carried out at pH 6 or below are preferable, and furtherthe above process wherein the organic solvent is a hydrocarbon ispreferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing anoptically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol, which comprisesallowing to act a microorganism or an enzyme having enzyme activitywhich esterifies only hydroxy group at 1-position or 3-positionstereospecifically on an 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol represented by theformula (III): ##STR22## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may besubstituted in the presence of an acylating agent and allowing to forman optically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by theformula (VIII): ##STR23## wherein Ar is the same as the defined above, Ris a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may besubstituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may besubstituted or an aryl group which may be substituted.

Herein, the above process wherein Ar is 2,4-difluorophenyl group, R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group, or phenyl group; the aboveprocess wherein the acylating agent is carboxylic acid, a carboxylicacid ester or a carboxylic acid anhydride; and the above process whereinthe microorganisms or enzyme which esterifies stereospecifically is amember selected from the group consisting of the microorganism belongingto Chromobacterium genus, Rhizopus genus, Mucor genus, Candida genus,Aspergillus genus, Geotrichum genus, Pseudomonas genus, Bacillus genusor Humicola genus, the enzyme derived from that microorganism, theenzyme derived from porcine pancreas and the enzyme derived from wheatare preferable, further the above process wherein R is methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl,chloromethyl, β-chloroethyl or γ-chloropropyl group is preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to an optically active compoundrepresented by the formula (IX): ##STR24## wherein Ar is an aryl groupwhich may be substituted, R is a normal chain or branched chain alkylgroup which may be substituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenylgroup which may be substituted or an aryl group which may besubstituted, Y is a lower alkyl group which may be substituted, a phenylgroup or a benzyl group which may be substituted.

Herein, the above compound represented by the formula (IXa): ##STR25##wherein Ar is 2,4-difluorophenyl group, R is a normal chain or branchedchain alkyl group, Y is methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, phenyl,p-methylphenyl or benzyl group; further the compound wherein R ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl or n-butyl group, Y is methyl orp-methylphenyl group are preferable, and the above compound wherein R ismethyl group, Y is methyl group; and the above compound wherein R isisopropyl group, Y is methyl group are more preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to an optically active compoundrepresented by the formula (IX): ##STR26## wherein Ar is an aryl groupwhich may be substituted, R is a normal chain or branched chain alkylgroup which may be substituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenylgroup which may be substituted or an aryl group which may besubstituted, Y is a lower alkyl group which may be substituted, a phenylgroup or a benzyl group which may be substituted by allowing to actsulfonic acid halide represented by the formula (X): ##STR27## wherein Yis the same as the defined above, X² is a halogen atom on an opticallyactive 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula(VIII): ##STR28## wherein Ar is the same as the defined above.

Herein, the the above process wherein Ar is 2,4-difluorophenyl group, Ris a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group in the optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII), andY is methyl, ethyl, trifluoromethyl, phenyl, p-methylphenyl or benzylgroup, X² is a halogen atom in the sulfonic acid halide represented bythe formula (X); further the above process wherein methanesulfonylchloride is allowed to act on an optically active2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-2,3-propanediol to prepare opticallyactive 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol;and the above process wherein methanesulfonyl chloride allowed to act onoptically active 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-2,3-propanediolto prepare optically active2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanolare preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing anoptically active 2-aryl-2,3-epoxy-1-propanol represented by the formula(XI): ##STR29## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted,which comprises carrying out, in the presence of a base, cyclization andfurther hydrolysis of ester of an optically active compound representedby the formula (IX): ##STR30## wherein Ar is the same as the definedabove, R is a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may besubstituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may besubstituted or an aryl group which may be substituted, Y is a loweralkyl group which may be substituted, a phenyl group or a benzyl groupwhich may be substituted.

Herein, the above process, which comprises allowing to cyclize anoptically active2-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl)-1-acetoxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol andfurther to carry out hydrolysis of ester in the presence of a base toprepare an optically active 2-(2,4-difluophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanolrepresented by the formula (XIa): ##STR31## and the above process, whichcomprises allowing to cyclize optically active2-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl-1-isobutyloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol andfurther carrying out to hydrolyze ester in the presence of a base toprepare optically active 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanolrepresented by the formula (XIa): ##STR32## are preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing anoptically active 2-aryl-3-triazole-1,2-propanediol represented by theformula (XII): ##STR33## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may besubstituted, which comprises allowing to act triazole on an opticallyactive compound represented by the formula (IX): ##STR34## wherein Ar isthe same as the defined above, R is a normal chain or branched chainalkyl group which may be substituted, a normal chain or branched chainalkenyl group which may be substituted or an aryl group which may besubstituted, Y is a lower alkyl group which may be substituted, a phenylgroup or a benzyl group which may be substituted and further carryingout to hydrolyze ester in the presence of a base and an an2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol represented by the formula (III): ##STR35##wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted. Herein, the abovecompound wherein the compound is2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol represented by the formula(IIIa): ##STR36## is preferable.

Also, the present invention relates to a process for preparing an2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol, which comprises hydrolyzing an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I):##STR37## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may be substituted, anormal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may be substituted oran aryl group which may be substituted or a compound represented by theformula (VIII): ##STR38## wherein each of Ar and R is the same as eachof the defined above and allowing to act an enzyme having enzymeactivity which allow to form 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol represented bythe formula (III): ##STR39## wherein Ar is the same as the defined aboveon a compound represented by the formula (VIII) or (I) to form2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol and a process for preparing an2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol, which comprises hydrolyzing an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I):##STR40## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted, R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may be substituted, anormal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may be substituted oran aryl group which may be substituted, or an2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII):##STR41## wherein each of Ar and R is the same as each of the definedabove in the presence of a base to form an 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriolrepresented by the formula (III): ##STR42## wherein Ar is the same asthe defined above.

Examples of an aryl group represented by Ar in each compound of formulae(I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), (IX), (X), (XI) and(XII), which may be substituted, in the present invention, are2,4-difluorophenyl, phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl,4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-biphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl,2-chlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl,1-naphthyl and 2-naphthyl group and particularly 2,4-difluorophenylgroup is preferable.

Examples of a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which may besubstituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which may besubstituted or an aryl group which may be substituted, represented by R,are preferably a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group having 1 to10 carbon atoms, or phenyl group and particularly methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl,chloromethyl, β-chloroethyl and γ-chloropropyl group are preferable andisopropyl group is more preferable.

Examples of a lower alkyl group which may be substituted, a phenyl groupor a benzyl group which may be substituted represented by Y, are methy,ethyl and trifluoromethyl group; phenyl, p-methylphenyl, benzyl and2,4-dinitrophenyl group; respectively. Particularly, methyl, ethyl,trifluromethyl, phenyl, p-methylphenyl and benzyl group and preferable.

Examples of a halogen atom, a normal chain or branched chain acyloxygroup or a normal chain or branched chain alkoxy group represented X¹,are a halogen atom, a normal chain or branched chain acyloxy grouphaving 1 to 11 carbon atoms; and a normal chain or branched chain alkoxygroup having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, respectively and particularly chlorineatom, bromine atom; acetoxy, chloroacetoxy, propionyloxy, n-butyryloxy,n-pentanoyloxy, n-hexanoyloxy, n-heptanoyloxy, n-octanoyloxy,isobutyryloxy, isopentanoyloxy, β-chloropropionyloxy,γ-chlorobutyryloxy, benzoyloxy; and methoxy, ethoxy, n-propyloxy orisopropyloxy group, respectively are more preferable.

Examples of a halogen atom represented by X² are chlorine atom, bromineatom, fluorine atom and iodine atom.

Preferable examples of the 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol in thepresent invention represented by the formula (I): ##STR43## wherein Aris the same as the defined above, are particularly2-phenyl-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(4-biphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(2-methylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol,2-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryoxy-2-propanol,2-(1-naphthyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, and2-(2-naphtyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol.

Preferable examples of the 1,3-diacyloxyacetone in the present inventionrepresented by the formula (II): ##STR44## wherein R is the same as thedefined above, are particularly, 1,3-diacetoxyacetone,1,3-dipropionyloxyacetone, 1,3-di-n-butyryloxyacetone and1,3-diisobutyryloxyacetone.

Those compounds are useful compounds as a raw material of variousmedicaments or biologically active substances.

By the following three kinds of processes for preparation is synthesized2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I).

In the first process (shown in the following Reaction formula 1):##STR45## wherein each Ar and R is the same as each of the definedabove, M is Li, MgCl, MgBr or MgI, the 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanolis obtained by allowing to react an organic metal compound such as2,4-difluorophenyllithium,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium chloride,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium iodide,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium bromide,

phenylmagnesium bromide,

4-fluorophenylmagnesium bromide,

4-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide,

4-methylphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-biphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-tert-butylphenylmagnesium bromide,

2-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide,

2-methylphenylmagnesium bromide,

2,4-dichlorophenylmagnesium iodide,

2,4-dimethylphenylmagnesium bromide,

1-naphthylmagnesium bromide or 2-naphtylmagnesium bromide with1,3-diacyloxyacetone represented by the formula (II): ##STR46## whereinR is the same as the defined above.

The 2,4-difluorophenyllithium employed in the present invention can beprepared by treating 2,4-difluorobromobenzene, 2,4-difluorochlorobenzeneor 2,4-difluoroiodobenzene with a base such as n-butyl lithium. Also,2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium bromide,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium chloride,

2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium iodide,

phenylmagnesium bromide,

4-fluorophenylmagnesium bromide,

4-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide,

4-methylphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-biphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-methoxyphenylmagnesium bromide,

4-tert-butylphenylmagnesium bromide,

2-chlorophenylmagnesium bromide,

2-methylphenylmagnesium bromide,

2,4-dichlorophenylmagnesium iodide,

2,4-dimethylphenylmagnesium bromide,

1-naphthylmagnesium bromide or 2-naphtylmagnesium bromide employed inthe present invention can be prepared by allowing to react2,4-difluorobromobenzene, 2,4-difluorochlorobenzene,2,4-difluoroiodobenzene, bromobenzene, 4-fluorobromobenzene,4-chlorobromobenzene, 4-bromotoluene, 4-bromobipheny, 4-bromoanisole,1-bromo-4-tert-butylbenzene, 2-chlorobromobenzene, 2-bromotoluene,2,4-dichloroiodobenzene, 4-bromo-m-xylene, 1-bromonaphthalene and2-bromonaphthalene, respectively with metal magnesium.

The preferable solvents employed in the process of the present inventionare usually ether solvents such as diethylether and THF. Alternatively,the solvent may be used by mixing a solvent which is inactive against areaction for example, a reaction employing hexane, with the abovesolvent. The reaction according to the present invention is carried outat a temperature of -80° to reflux temperature of the solvent. In orderto avoid decomposing a raw material or product, it is preferably carriedout at -30° C. or below.

The amount of 1,3-diacyloxyacetone (II) is a range of 1 to 1.2equivalents to that of an organic metal compound. After the reaction isfinished, the reaction mixture was added in an acid aqueous solutionunder ice cooling with keeping pH accescence and then, the resultingliquid was extracted with an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate togive the desired product readily.

As to the process for preparing 1,3-diacyloxyacetone (II),1,3-diacyloxyacetone is obtained by allowing to react dihydroxyacetonemonomer or dimer in the presence of a base with acid anhydride or acidhalide. The reaction can be carried out without a solvent but it ispreferable to employ organic solvents such as halogenated hydrocarbon,for example, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride andthe like, or aromatic hydrocarbons, for example, benzene, toluene,xylene and the like. To the reaction liquid, 2 or more equivalents ofbase to that of dihydroxyacetone dimer may be added. Examples of thebases are tertiary amines such as triethylamine, trimethylamine,diisopropylethylamine, N,N-dimethylaniline and N,N-diethylaniline;aromatic nitrogen compounds such as pyridine,4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine, imidazole, 2,6-lutidine, sodium hydrideand potassium hydride. The reaction temperature can be employed at broadtemperature range and usually a temperature of -10° C. to a refluxtemperature of the solvent is employed. After the reaction is finished,to the resulting liquid is added a water which contains a base such asacid, alkali or ammonium chloride with keeping pH of the reaction liquidaround neutral. And then, the resulting liquid is extracted with anorganic solvent such as ethyl acetate to give the desired productreadily.

As to the process for preparing 1,3-diacetoxyacetone, a process wherein1,3-diacetoxyacetone is synthesized by employing dihydroxyacetone dimer,and acetyl chloride or acetic acid anhydride is known (ref. thereference by Hiroshi Suemune, Chemical Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 34(8),3440 (1986)).

According to the second process (shown in the following Reaction formula2): ##STR47## the 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by theformula (I): ##STR48## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may besubstituted, R is a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group which maybe substituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group which maybe substituted or an aryl group which may be substituted is obtained bycarring out position-specifically 1,3-diacylation by allowing to reactan acid halide, an acid anhydride or an ester represented by the formula(IV): ##STR49## wherein R is the same as the defined above, X¹ is ahalogen atom, a normal chain or branched chain acyloxy group or a normalchain or branched chain alkoxy group with an aryl-1,2,3-propanetriolrepresented by the formula (III): ##STR50## wherein Ar is the same asthe defined above.

In the above reaction, 2 or more equivalents of compound represented bythe formula (IV) to that of compound of the formula (III) may beemployed. In case the acid halide or the acid anhydride is employed, ifnecessary, to the reaction liquid may be added a tertiary amine such astriethylamine, trimethylamine, diisopropylethlyamine,N,N-dimethylaniline or N,N-diethylaniline; and an aromatic nitrogencompound such as pyridine, imidazole or 2,6-butidine; or sodiummethoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium hydride or potassium hydride. In casethe ester is employed, if necessary, to the reaction liquid may be addedhydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid as an acid catalystand while may be added sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, sodium hydrideor potassium hydride as an alkali catalyst. The above reaction can becarried out without a solvent but it is preferable to carry it out in anorganic solvent such as halogenated hydrocarbon, for example, methylenechloride, chloroform or carbon tetrachloride; aromatic hydrocarbon, forexample, benzene, toluene or xylene; or dimethylformamide. The reactiontemperature can be employed at broad temperature range and usually atemperature of -10° to -40° C. is employed in order to carry outposition-specifically 1,3-diacylation because acylation of hydroxylgroup at 2-position occurs at high temperature. After the reaction isfinished, to the resulting liquid is added a water which contains anacid, an alkali or a base such as ammonium chloride with keeping pH ofthe reaction liquid around neutral. And then, the resulting liquid isextracted with an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate to give thedesired product readily.

According to the third process (shown in the following Reaction formula3): ##STR51## the 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by theformula (I): ##STR52## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may besubstituted, and R is a normal chain or branched chain alkyl group whichmay be substituted, a normal chain or branched chain alkenyl group whichmay be substituted or an aryl group which may be substituted is obtainedby allowing to react a 1-chloro-2-arylphenyl-2,3-epoxypropanerepresented by the formula (VI): ##STR53## wherein Ar is the same as thedefined above with a carboxylic acid represented by the formula (VII):

    RCOOH                                                      (VII)

wherein R is the same as the defined above and its salt.

The 1,3-dichloro-2-aryl-2-propanol (IV) being the raw material of theabove reaction, for example, in case of1,3-dichloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol, is obtained by allowingto react 2,4-difluorobromobenzene with 1,3-dichloroacetone in an organicsolvent such as anhydrous ether or hexane at the presence of a base suchas n-butyllithium, according to the known process by references (ref.,for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 32868/1983).

The above 1-chloro-2-aryl-2,3-epoxypropane (VI) is obtained by resolving1,3-dichloro-2-aryl-2-propanol (V) in a halogenated hydrocarbon such asmethylene chloride, chloroform or carbon tetrachloride; or an aromatichydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene or xylene, and then, thereto isadded an aqueous solution which contains 1 or more equivalents basicsubstance such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide or potassiumhydroxide, to that of compound (V) to be allowed to react in two phase.Also, an after-treatment may be only separation of organic layer fromwater layer.

The above 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol of the formula (I) is obtainedby allowing to react 1-chloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxypropane(VI) with a carboxylic acid of the formula (VII) and its salt. Theamount of the above carboxylic acid is 5 or more equivalents to that ofcompound (VI) and preferably 2 to 5 equivalents to that of compound(VI).

The reaction temperature can be employed at broad temperature range. Inorder to raise reaction rates, the temperature is employed at 80° C. ormore, and preferable at 100° C. or more. After the reaction is finished,the resulting reaction liquid is distilled under reduced pressure toremove carboxylic acid or to the resulting reaction liquid wherein acidis neutralized is added water and then the liquid is extracted with theorganic solvent.

It is preferable that a salt of carboxylic acid is an alkali metal salt,and alkaline earth metal salt or an amine salt of carboxylic acid andmore preferable that the salt of carboxylic acid is lithium salt, sodiumsalt, potassium salt, magnesium salt, calcium salt, ammonium salt,trimethylammonium salt, triethylammonium salt, tetramethylammonium saltor tetraethylammonium salt of carboxylic acid.

As a result of further vigorous effort by the present inventors onexamination of a process for preparing an optically active2-arylglycerol derivative, a presence of microorganism and enzyme havingan enzymatic activity which hydrolyzes stereospecifically the2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I) to formthe optically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by theformula (VIII), and an enzymatic activity which esterifiesstereospecifically only one side hydroxyl group at 1-position or at3-position of 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol represented by the formula (III)in the presence of an acylating agent, has been found.

The industrial process for preparing the optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol which includes the compound representedby the formula (VIII), being useful as an intermediate of a medicamenthas been estabilished by the present invention

That is, the compound represented by the formula (VIII) is synthesizedby allowing to act a microorganism or an enzyme having enzymaticactivity which allow to form the optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII) bystereospecific hydrolysis of the 2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanolrepresented by the formula (I): ##STR54## wherein each of Ar and R isthe same as each of the defined above, on the2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I).

Examples of microorganisms or enzymes employed in the present inventioncan be any microorganism, animal tissue or enzyme which is separatedtherefrom, which has activity that stereospecifically hydrorizes the2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I) to formthe optically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by theformula (VIII). Those microorganisms, animal tissues and enzymes havingthe above activity can be searched by the method shown in the followingExample 28. The concrete examples of the microorganisms or enzymes areChromobacterium genus, Rhizopus genus, Mucor genus, Candida genus,Aspergillus genus, Geotrichum genus, Pseudomonas genus, Bacillus genusand Humicola genus, and the enzymes derived from those microorganisms,the enzymes derived from mammalian viscera, and more detail, areChromobacterium viscosum, Rhizopus delemar, Rhizopus javanicus, Mucorjananicus, Candida antarctica, Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum candidum,Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus sp., Humicola sp. and the enzymesderived from porcine panceas.

The commercially available enzymes thereof are shown in Tables 1 and 2.The enzymes may be employed in accordance with whether a form of thedesired compound is R-form or S-form.

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Enzyme No.                                                                          Enzyme name                                                                              Origin      Manufacturer                                     __________________________________________________________________________    1     Lipase     Porcine pancreas                                                                          Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.              2     Lipase     Chromobacterium viscosum                                                                  Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.                3     Lipase     Rhizopus delemar                                                                          SEIKAGAKU CORPORATION                            4     Lipase Saiken 50                                                                         Rhizopus javanicus                                                                        Osaka Bacterial Research Institute               5     Lipase Saiken 100                                                                        Rhizopus javanicus                                                                        Osaka Bacterial Research Institute               6     Lipase D   Rhizopus delemar                                                                          Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                   7     Lipase     Mucor javanicus                                                                           BIOCATALYSIS, Ltd.                               8     Suizousei-shoukakouso  Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                   9     Serureisu              Nagase & Co., Ltd.                               10    SP 526     Candida antarctica                                                                        NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                               __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Enzyme No.                                                                          Enzyme name                                                                          Origin     Manufacturer                                          __________________________________________________________________________    11    Lipase AP4                                                                           Aspergillus niger                                                                        Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                        12    Lipase AP6                                                                           Aspergillus niger                                                                        Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                        13    Lipase MAP10                                                                         Mucor javanicus                                                                          Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                        14    Lipase MY                                                                            Candida cylindracea                                                                      Melto Industries, Ltd.                                15    Lipase FAP15                                                                         Rhizopus javanicus                                                                       Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                        16    Lipase PS                                                                            Pseudomonas fluorescens                                                                  Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                        17    Lipase GC                                                                            Geotrichum candidum                                                                      Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.                        18    Talipase                                                                             Rhizopus delemer                                                                         Tanabe Seiyaku CO., Ltd.                              19    SP 388 Mucor meihei                                                                             NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    20    SP 523 Humicola sp.                                                                             NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    21    SP 524 Mucor meihei                                                                             NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    22    SP 525 Candida antarctica                                                                       NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    23    SP 539 Bacillus sp.                                                                             NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    24    Novozym 435                                                                          Candida antarctica                                                                       NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    25    Lipozym IM                                                                           Mucor meihei                                                                             NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    26    Subtilisin A                                                                         Bacillus subtilis                                                                        NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.                                    __________________________________________________________________________

In the process for preparing the optically active compound representedby the formula (VIII) by carrying out stereospecifically hydrolysis ofthe substrate represented by the formula (I), the hydrolysis reaction iscarried out the following steps. The substrate is suspended in water orbuffer in a preferable range of 0.1% to 90% (w/v) and then, suitableenzyme, for example at a range of 1:1 to 500:1 (weight ratio ofsubstrate and enzyme) is added to the resulting suspension with stirringat a temperature of 10° to 45° C., preferable 5° to 15° C. In case ofalkaline condition, a main constituent is readily racemized and theoptical purity thereof falls, therefore, the pH is preferably in a rangeof 3 to 6. Alternatively, according to a progress of the hydrolysis, pHof the reaction liquid tends to towards acidic side, therefore, the pHmay be kept by suitable alkaline solution such as sodium hydroxide.Further, in order to stimulate a progress of the reaction, the organicsolvents which do not inhibit the enzyme reaction may be optionallyadded to the reaction liquid. Examples of the solvents are n-hexane,cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, n-heptane, n-octane, isooctane,n-decane, benzene, toluene, chloroform, petroleum ether and diisopropylether and more preferably is hydrocarbon Also, the enzymes can be usedby immobilizing on suitable water-insoluble carries such as ion-exchangeresin.

After the hydrolysis, in order to isolate an2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propendiol, being product from the reaction liquid,the general isolation method can be employed. For example, extraction iscarried out by addition an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate to thereaction liquid. After the resulting liquid is dried, the organicsolvent is removed under reduced pressure. As the result, the opticallyactive 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol can be obtained. Furthermore, itcan be purified in high purity by purification procedures such ascrystallization, distillation and column chromatography on silica gel.

The optically active compound represented by the formula (VIII) issynthesized by allowing to act a microorganism or an enzyme havingenzymatic activity which esterifies only hydroxyl group at 1-position orat 3-position stereospecifically on an 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriolrepresented by the formula (III): ##STR55## wherein Ar is the same asthe defined above and acylating agent.

The process for preparing the 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol represented bythe formula (III) being a raw material in the process of the presentinvention is described later.

Examples of enzymes used in the present invention can be employed anymicroorganism, animal tissue or enzyme which is separated therefrom,which has activity that esterifies stereospecifically only hydroxylgroup at 1-position or 3-position on an 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanolrepresented by the formula (III) in the presence of an acylating agentand allowing to form an optically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propaneiolrepresented by the formula (VIII).

The concrete examples of enzymes are the same as the above enzymeshaving stereospecifically hydrolyzing activity or enzymes derived fromwheat.

Examples of acylating agent employed in the present invention arecarboxylic acids such as acetic acid and butyric acid and carboxylicacid esters such as ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate and vinyl acetate,carboxylic anhydrides such as acetic anhydride, butyric anhydride,fumaric acid, maleic acid and benzoic acid.

The esterification is carried out by the following steps. The substrateis suspended in an organic in a preferable range of 0.1% to 90% (w/v)and then, suitable enzyme, for example at a range of 1:1 to 500:1(weight ratio of substrate and enzyme) is added to the resultingsuspension with stirring at a temperature of 10° to 45° C., preferable15° to 35° C.

The acylating agent itself can be employed as a solvent and, ifnecessary, the reaction may be carried out in other organic solvent.Examples of the solvents are toluene, hexane, acetone, diisopropyl etherand dichloromethane. The above solvent can be employed alone or mixedeach other. Also, the enzymes can be employed by immobilizng on suitablewater-insoluble carried such as ion-exchange resin.

After the esterification, in order to isolate the2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propendiol, being product from the reaction liquid,the general isolation method is employed. For example, if necessary, thereaction liquid is filtrated to remove insoluble enzyme and extractedwith organic solvent such as ethyl acetate. After the resulting liquidis dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the like, the organic solventis removed under reduced pressure. As the result, the desired opticallyactive 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol can be obtained. Furthermore, itcan be purified in high purity by purification procedures such as columnchromatography on silica gel, crystallization and distillation.

Further, the optically active compound represented by the formula (IX)can be prepared by allowing to react the optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol with sulfonic acid halide representedby the formula (X): ##STR56## wherein each X and Y is the same as eachof the defined above, in the presence of a base. Examples of bases canbe organic bases and inorganic bases such as triethylamine, pyridine andimidazole; and sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. The amount of theemployed sulfonic acid halide is preferably about 1.0 to about 1.5 molesto that of the compound (I) being substrate. Also, the amount of thebase may be employed about equal to that of the sulfonic acid halide.The reaction is carried out in the organic solvents such astetrahydrofuran, toluene and ethyl acetate. The temperature of thereaction is a range of -40° to 30° C. After the raction to the resultingliquid is added water and extract with ethyl acetate, remove the solventand, if necessary, purify by column chromatography on silica gel to givehigh quality of the optically active compound represented by the formula(XI).

Further, the 2-aryl-2,3-epoxy-1-propanol represented by the formula (XI)can be prepared by adding the compound to a mixed liquid wherein theorganic solvent such as toluene is mixed with aqueous solution of strongbase such as KOH or NaOH, or in methanol wherein strong base is present,and by taking cyclization and hydrolysis of acylester.

The reaction is completely finished at room temperature for 2 to 24hours. After the reaction, the desired compound can be obtained byextraction with toluene or ethyl acetate and by removing the solvent.The above compound can be more highly purified by subjecting to columnchromatography on silica gel or by distillation. Alternatively, it canbe also prepared by allowing to cyclize the organic solvents such astetrahydrofuran and methylene chloride in the presence of a base and,after isolation of etser, to hydrolize in the presence of a strong base.

An addition of triazole and hydrolysis of acylester are simultaneouslycarried out by allowing to react the compound represented by the formula(IX) with triazole in the organic solvents such as tetrahydorufan andmethanol in the presence of a base such as potassium carbonate or sodiumcarbonate and 2-aryl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol can beprepared.

The amount of the base is preferably 2 to 4 equivalents to that of a rawmaterial. The amount of triazole is preferably 2 to 3 equivalents aswell as the base.

The reaction is completely finished at a temperature of 40° to 120° C.for 5 to 48 hours. After the reaction, the desired compound can beobtained by removing an inorganic base which is insoluble organicsolvent by filtration and by extraction with ethyl acetate then, byremoving the solvent. The above compound can be more highly purified bysubjecting to column chromatography on silica gel or byrecrystallization.

Thus, for example,(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diolbeing useful as an antifungal agent can be prepared.

In order to prepare the 2-aryl-1,2,3-propane triol represented by theformula (III), it is possible to hydrolize2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I) or2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII) inthe presence of a strong base such as KOH or NaOH, or to hydrolize it byenzyme having activity which hydrolyzes it non-stereospecifically.Examples of the above enzymes are Asperigillus genus, lipase obtainedfrom embryo of wheat and cellase obtained from Trichloroderma genus.

Examples of those enzymes as a commercially available enzyme are LipaseAP-6 (made by Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and Lipase (type I) (madeby Sigma Chemical Company). The hydrolysis by enzyme can be accomplishedusing the above enzymes by the same procedure as the process ofstereospeficially hydrolysis described above.

For example, by hydrolysis of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol or2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol in the presence of astrong base such as KOH or NaOH, or by hydrolysis it by enzyme havingactivity which hydrolysis it non-stereospecifically,2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol can be preapred.

Those 2-aryl-1,2,3-propanetriol can be isolated as a highly purifiedcompound by extraction with ethyl acetate from reaction liquid and byremoving the solvent and then by purification by column chromatographyon silica gel.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention is more specifically explained on thebasis of the following Examples, but is not limited to only theseExamples.

EXAMPLE 1

Synthesis of 1,3-diacetoxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol (accordingto Reaction formula 1)

Under an atmosphere of argon, 850 ml of THF solution of2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium bromide prepared from 202.6 g (1.05 mol) of2,4-difluorobromobenzene and 26.7 g (1.1 mol) of magnesium turnings wasadded dropwise at -30° C. to 1.7 l of THF solution of 174 g (1.00 mol)of 1,3-diacetoxyacetone which was previously cooled to -30° C. After theresulting liquid was stirred at -60° C. for 2 hours, a temperaturethereof was gradually raised to room temperature. Then, to the reactionmixture was added 1 l of 1.2N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid at5° C. or below, and an aqueous layer was extracted twice with 1 l ofethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueoussolution of sodium chloride, dried and concentrated under reducedpressure to give 302 g of crude oil. The obtained oil was purified bymeans of column chromatography on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=1:1)to give 125 g of the desired compound. The compound was recrystallizedfrom toluene/hexane.

m.p.: 70.5°-71.5° C.

IR ν cm⁻¹ : 3403, 1744, 1240, 1042, 849

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.70-7.67 (m; 1H), 6.93 (t; J=5.37 Hz,1H), 6.81 (t; J=2.93 Hz, 1H), 4.52 (d; J=11.72 Hz, 2H), 4.44 (d; J=11.72Hz, 2H), 3.65 (s; 1H), 2.03 (s; 6H)

EXAMPLE 2

Synthesis of 1,3-diacetoxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol (accordingto Reaction formula 1)

The reaction was carried out in the same manner as described in Example1 except that diethyl ether was employed instead of THF as a solvent.From 202.6 g of 2,4-difluorobromobenzene was prepared 100 g of thedesired compound.

EXAMPLE 3

Synthesis of 1,3-diacetoxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol (accordingto Reaction formula 1)

Under an atmosphere of argon, 22.5 g of 2,4-difluorobromobenzene wasdissolved in 200 ml of diethyl ether and to the resulting solution wasadded dropwise 73 ml of 1.63M n-hexane solution of n-butyllithium at-30° C. The resulting liquid was stirred for 1 hour and stored at -60°C. This liquid was carefully added dropwise using an injection cylingeto 150 ml of diethyl ether solution of 17.4 g of 1,3-diacetoxyacetonewhich was previously cooled to -30° C. After the resulting liquid wasstirred at -60° C. for 2 hours, a temperature thereof was graduallyraised to room temperature. Then, the reaction mixture was transferredto 100 ml of 1.2N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid at 5° C. orbelow, and the organic layer was separated therefrom and the aqueouslayer was extracted twice with 100 ml of ethyl acetate. The organiclayers were combined and washed with saturated aqueous solution withsodium chloride, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The resultingorganic layer was filtered and the solvent was removed under reducedpressure. Thus obtained concentrate was purified by columnchromatography on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=1:1) to give 8 g ofthe desired compound.

EXAMPLE 4

Synthesis of 1,3-diacetoxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol (accordingto Reaction formula 2)

In 100 ml of pyridine was dissolved 10 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol. To the resulting solution wasadded dropwise 1.1 g of acetic anhydride at room temperature. After thedropping, the resulting liquid was stirred at room temperature for 1hour. Then, to the reactiom mixture was added 50 ml of ethyl acetate,and an organic layer was separated therefrom. After the organic layerwas washed with 1N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and furtherwashed with water and saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride.Then the organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Theresulting organic layer was filtered and the solvent was removed underreduced pressure. Thus obtained concentrate was purified by columnchromatography on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=1:1) to give 12.5 gof the desired compound.

EXAMPLE 5

Synthesis of 1-chloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxypropane (accordingto Reaction formula 3)

To 1.7 l of toluene solution of 433 g of1,3-dichloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol was added 870 ml of 20%aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide. After the resulting liquid wasstirred at room temperature for 3 hours, the organic layer was separatedtherefrom The aqueous layer was extracted twice with 1 l of ethylacetate. The organic layers were combined and dried over anhydroussodium sulfate. The resulting organic layer was filtered and the solventwas removed under reduced pressure. Thus obtained concentrate wasdistilled under reduced pressure to give 184 g of the desired compound.

b.p.: 125°-135° C./30 mmHg

¹ H-NMR (90 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.57-7.31 (1H, m), 6.98-6.71 (2H, m),4.09 (1H, d, J=11.9 Hz), 3.68 (1H, d, J=11.9 Hz), 3.20 (1H, d, J=4.8Hz), 2.93 (1H, d, J=4.8 Hz)

IR ν cm⁻¹ : 1619, 1602, 1508, 1425, 1272

EXAMPLE 6

Synthesis of 1,3-diacetoxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol (accordingto Reaction formula 3)

To 105 g of 1-chloro-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxypropane were added525 ml of acetic acid and 126 g of potassium acetate and the resultingmixture was stirred at 115° C. for 15 hours. The reaction mixture wasallowed to cool to room temperature. Then, to this reaction liquid wasadded 700 ml of water and a solid matter was dissolved and the resultingsolution was extracted three times with 500 ml of ethyl acetate. Theorganic layer was washed with saturated aqueous solution with sodiumhydrogencarbonate and with water and dried over anhydrous sodiumsulfate. The resulting organic layer was filtered and the solvent wasremoved under reduced pressure. Thus obtained concentrate was purifiedby column chromatography on silica gel (hexane:ethyl acetate=1:1) togive 100 g of the desired compound.

EXAMPLE 7

Synthesis of 1,3-diacetoxyacetone

Under an atmosphere of argon, 90 g of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone dimer and 250mg of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine were dissolved in 250 ml ofpyridine. To the resulting solution, 225 ml of acetic anhydride wasadded droopowise at room temperature over 1 hour. After the resultingliquid was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, thereto was added50 ml of methanol and the resulting liquid was further stirred at roomtemperature for 30 minutes. The solvent was removed under reducedpressure and the residue was subjected to a recrystallization fromether-petroleum ether to give 190 g of the desired compound.

m.p.: 45.5°-46.6° C.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 2.18 (s, 6H), 4.76 (s, 4H)

IR ν cm⁻¹ : 1770, 1745, 1230

EXAMPLE 8

Synthesis of 1,3-di-n-butylyloxyacetone

Under an atmosphere of argon, 45 g of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone dimer and 100mg of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine were dissolved in 120 ml ofpyridine. To the resulting solution, 196 ml of n-butyric anhydride wasadded dropwise at room temperature over 1 hour. After the resultingmixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, thereto wasadded 50 ml of methanol and the resulting mixture was further stirred atroom temperature for 30 minutes. To the reaction mixture was added 1 lof ethyl acetate and the organic layer was separated. The organic layerwas washed with 2N HCl and further washed with saturated aqueoussolution with sodium hydrogencarbonate and saturated aqueous solutionwith sodium chloride, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Thesolvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was subjected toa recrystallization from ether/n-hexane to give 98.6 g of the desiredcompound.

m.p: 47°-48° C.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 4.76 (s, 4H), 2.42 (t, 4H, J=7.3 Hz),1.65-1.75 (m, 4H), 0.99 (t, 6H, J=7.3 Hz)

IR νcm⁻¹ : 1736, 1418, 1179, 1094, 994

EXAMPLE 9

Synthesis of 1,3-dipropionyloxyacetone

Under an atmosphere of argon, 45 g of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone dimer and 100mg of 4-(N,N-dimethyiamino)pyridine were dissolved in 120 ml ofpyridine. To the resulting solution, 150 ml of propionic anhydride wasadded dropwise at room temperature over 1 hour. After the resultingliquid was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, thereto was added50 ml of methanol and the resulting liquid was further stirred at roomtemperature for 30 minutes. To the reaction mixture was added 1 l ofethyl acetate and the organic layer was separated. The organic layer waswashed with 2N HCl and further washed with saturated aqueous solutionwith sodium hydrogencarbonate and saturated aqueous solution with sodiumchloride, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent wasremoved under reduced pressure. The residue was subjected to arecrystallization from ether/n-hexane to give 74 g of the desiredcompound.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 4.77 (s, 4H), 2.47 (q, 4H, J=7.3 Hz),1.19 (t, 6H, J=7.3 Hz)

EXAMPLE 10

Synthesis of 1,3-diisobutyryloxyacetone

A 100 ml reaction vessel was charged with 4.18 g of dihydroxyacetone(monomer), 11.2 ml of pyridine and 10 mg of 4-dimethylaminopyridine andthe mixture was stirred at room temperature. Thereto was added dropwise16.7 ml of isobutyric anhydride over 30 minutes. After the dropping, theresulting liquid was further stirred for 1 hour and then 1 ml ofmethanol was added thereto and the resulting liquid was further stirredfor 1 hour. To the reaction mixture was added ethyl acetate and theorganic layer was separated. The organic layer was washed with water andfurther washed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonateand 1N HCl. Then, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Theresidue was distilled under reduced pressure to give 7.47 g of thedesired compound.

b.p. 91°-103° C./0.5 mmHg

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 4.76 (4H, s), 2.72-2.65 (2H, m),1.24-1.22 (12H, d)

EXAMPLE 11

Synthesis of 1,3-dipropionyloxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol(according to Reaction formula 2)

In 30 ml of pyridine was dissolved 3.06 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol and thereto was added dropwise4.29 g of propionic anhydride and stirred at room temperature for 6hours. To thus obtained reaction liquid was added 100 ml of ethylacetate and the organic layer was separated. The organic layer waswashed with 1N HCl and further washed with water and saturated aqueoussolution with sodium chloride. After the organic layer was dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent was removed under reducedpressure. Thus obtained concentrate was purified by means of columnchromatography on silica gel (hexane/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 4.55 gof the oily desired compound.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.71-7.67 (1H, m), 6.94-6.89 (1H, m),6.83-6.78 (1H, m), 4.54-4.43 (4H, dd), 3.77 (1H, s), 2.32-2.26 (2H, q),1.08-1.04 (3H, t)

EXAMPLE 12

Synthesis of 1,3-di-n-pentanoyl-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol(according to Reaction formula 2)

In 30 ml of pyridine was dissolved 3.06 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl-1,2,3-propanetriol and thereto was added dropwise9.05 g of valeryl chloride and stirred at room temperature for 6 hours.To the reaction mixture was added 30 ml of water and the resultingliquid was extracted with 100 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonate andfurther washed with water and with saturated aqueous solution withsodium chloride. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodiumsulfate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Thusobtained concentrate was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(hexane/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 3.16 g of the oily desired compound.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.72-7.64 (1H, m), 6.95-6.88 (1H, t),6.85-6.78 (1H, m), 4.52-4.44 (4H, dd), 2.40-2.35 (2H, m), 2.30-2.25 (2H,m), 1.66-1.58 (2H, m), 1.55-1.45 (2H, m), 1.43-1.33 (2H, m), 1.30-1.18(2H, m), 0.96-0.90 (3H, m), 0.88-0.82 (3H, m)

EXAMPLE 13

Synthesis of 1,3-di-n-butyryloxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol(according to Reaction formula 2)

In 30 ml of pyridine was dissolved 3.06 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol and thereto was added dropwise5.22 g of n-butyric anhydride and stirred at room temperature for 6hours. To thus obtained reaction liquid was added 100 ml of ethylacetate and the organic layer was separated. The organic layer waswashed with 1N HCl, further washed with water and saturated aqueoussolution with sodium chloride. After the organic layer was dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent was removed under reducedpressure. Thus obtained concentrate was purified by columnchromatography on silica gel (hexane/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 5.12 gof the oily desired compound.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.72-7.65 (1H, m), 6.95-6.88 (1H, t),6.85-6.76 (1H, m), 4.55-4.44 (4H, dd), 3.82 (1H, s), 2.28-2.23 (4H, m),1.60-1.50 (4H, m), 0.88-0.83 (6H, t)

EXAMPLE 14

Synthesis of 1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol(according to Reaction formula 1)

Under an atmosphere of argon, 5 ml of THF was slowly added to 925 mg ofmagnesium turnings, and then thereto was added dropwise 7 g of2,4-difluorobromobenzene dissolved in 30 ml of THF with keeping thetemperature at 20° C. After the reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hourwith keeping the temperature at 20° C., 7.9 g of1,3-diisobutyryloxyacetone dissolved in 10 ml of THF was added dropwisethereto with keeping the temperature at 0° C. After the dropping, thereaction mixture was stirred for 4 hours and then the reaction wasstopped by adding 35 ml of 1N sulfuric acid. The obtained liquid wasextracted twice with 35 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonate and withsaturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride, in turn. The solventwas removed under reduced pressure. Thus obtained concentrate wasdistilled under reduced pressure to give 10 g of the desired compound.

b.p. 114°-119° C./0.5-0.6 mmHg

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm : 7.73-7.65 (1H, m), 6.95-6.88 (1H, t),6.85-6.77 (1H, m), 4.54-4.45 (4H, q), 3.90 (1H, s), 2.55-2.47 (2H, m),1.10-1.03 (12H, m)

EXAMPLE 15

Synthesis of 1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-phenyl-2-propanol (according toReaction formula 1)

Under an atmosphere of argon, 2 ml of diethyl ether was slowly added to695 mg of magnesium turnings, and then thereto was added dropwise 4 g ofbromobenzene dissolved in 10 ml of diethyl ether. The resulting liquidwas stirred for 1 hour under refluxing and allowed to cool. That liquidwas added dropwise to 50 ml of diethyl ether solution of 3.78 g of1,3-diisobutyryloxyacetone which was previously cooled to -50° C. Afterthe resulting liquid was stirred at -50° C. for 1 hour, a temperaturethereof was gradually raised to room temperature. Then, the reactionmixture was added to 50 ml of 2N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acidat 5° C. or below, and an organic layer was separated and the aqueouslayer was extracted twice with 50 ml of ethyl acetate. The organiclayers were combined and washed three times with 1N aqueous solution ofsodium hydroxide, washed twice with saturated aqueous solution withsodium chloride, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solventwas removed under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by columnchromatography on silica gel (eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) togive 5.5 g of the desired compound.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.48-7.46 (2H, m), 7.39-7.37 (2H, m),7.35-7.28 (1H, m), 4.43-4.35 (4H, q), 3.15 (1H, s), 2.56-2.49 (2H, m),1.11-1.07 (12H, t)

EXAMPLES 16 to 27

An diester shown in Table 3 was obtained by carrying out the same manneras described in Example 15 employing a compound shown in Table 3 insteadof bromobenzene as a starting substance. A ¹ H-NMR spectra of that esterwas shown in Table 4.

                                      TABLE 3                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Example No.                                                                         Raw Material                                                                              Diester                                                     __________________________________________________________________________    16    4-Fluorobromobenzene                                                                      2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol           17    4-Chlorobromobenzene                                                                      2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol           18    4-Bromotoluene                                                                            2-(4-Methylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol           19    4-Bromobiphenyl                                                                           2-(4-Biphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol               20    4-Bromoanisole                                                                            2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol          21    1-Bromo-4-t-butylbenzene                                                                  2-(4-t-Butylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol          22    2-Chlorobromobenzene                                                                      2-(2-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol           23    2-Bromotoluene                                                                            2-(4-Methylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol           24    2,4-Dichloroiodobenzene                                                                   2-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol       25    4-Bromo-m-xylene                                                                          2-(2,4-Dimethylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol       26    1-Bromonaphthalene                                                                        2-(1-Naphthyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol               27    2-Bromonaphthalene                                                                        2-(2-Naphthyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol               __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Ex.                                                                           No.     .sup.1 H-NMR(400MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ ppm                          ______________________________________                                        16      7.49-7.45(2H, m), 7.07-7.03(2H, m), 4.40-4.32                                 (4H, q), 3.27(1H, s), 2.57-2.50(2H, m), 1.27-1.21                             (12H, m)                                                              17      7.44-7.33(4H, dd), 4.39-4.32(4H, q), 3.23(1H, s),                             2.56-2.50(2H, m), 1.11-1.08(12H, m)                                   18      7.37-7.16(4H, dd), 4.40-4.33(4H, q), 3.12(1H, s),                             2.57-2.50(2H, m), 2.04(3H, s), 1.12-1.08(12H, m)                      19      7.61-7.54(6H, m), 7.45-7.42(2H, m), 7.37-7.35                                 (1H, m), 4.47-4.38(4H, q), 3.26(1H, s), 2.56-2.51                             (2H, m), 1.12-1.09(12H, m)                                            20      7.41-6.88(4H, dd), 4.40-4.32(4H, q), 3.81(3H, s),                             3.02(1H, s), 2.57-2.50(2H, m), 1.12-1.09(12H, m)                      21      7.41-7.36(4H, m), 4.43-4.33(4H, m), 3.02(1H, s),                              2.57-2.50(2H, m), 1.31(9H, s), 1.11-1.07(12H, m)                      22      7.85-7.82(1H, d), 7.37-7.35(1H, d), 7.32-7.24                                 (2H, m), 4.75-4.68(4H, q), 4.20(1H, s), 2.52-2.45                             (2H, m), 1.23(2H, d), 1.04-1.01(10H, m)                               23      7.44-7.42(1H, d), 7.21-7.15(3H, m), 4.55-4.48                                 (4H, q), 3.34(1H, s), 2.57(3H, s), 2.55-2.48(2H, m),                          1.26-1.22(2H, d), 1.07-1.06(10H, m)                                   24      7.81-7.79(1H, d), 7.39(1H, d), 7.29-7.27(1H, m),                              4.68(4H, s), 4.21(1H, s), 2.53-2.46(2H, m),                                   1.06-1.03(12H, m)                                                     25      7.29-7.26(1H, d), 6.98-6.95(2H, d), 4.52-4.45                                 (4H, q), 3.23(1H, s), 2.55-2.49(2H, m), 2.53(3H, s),                          2.28(3H, s), 1.10-1.07(12H, m)                                        26      8.71(1H, m), 7.88-7.81(1H, m), 7.58-7.40(5H, m),                              4.81-4.67(4H, m), 3.43(1H, s), 2.55-2.48(2H, m),                              1.21-1.16(2H, m), 1.08-1.05(10H, m)                                   27      7.98(1H, d), 7.86-7.81(3H, m), 7.58-7.56(1H, d),                              7.51-7.47(2H, m), 4.52-4.45(4H, q), 3.32(1H, s),                              2.55-2.48(2H, m), 1.23-1.21(2H, m), 1.09-1.06                                 (10H, m)                                                              ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 28

Synthesis of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol

Each test tube was charged with 10 mg of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diacetoxy-2-propanol, each 10 mg of theenzymes shown in Table 1 (Enzyme Nos. 1 to 10), 1 ml of 50 mM acetatebuffer (pH 5) and 1 ml of n-hexane. The each test tube was shaken at 30°C. for 16 hours. Then, thereto was added 1 ml of ethyl acetate and theresulting liquid was extracted. The solvent was removed under reducedpressure to give an oily residue. The oily residue was dissolved inmethanol and HPLC analysis was carried out to estimate a conversionratio into the formed 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanedioland an optical purity thereof, and the results were shown in Table 5(Conditions for carrying out the HPLC analysis/column: CHIRALPAK AD(0.46×25 cm), made by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., eluent:n-hexane/ethanol=9/1, detection wavelength: 254 nm, flow rate: 1 ml/min,temperature of the column: room temperature).

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Enzyme No.  Conversion Ratio (%)                                                                        Optical Purity (% ee)                               ______________________________________                                        1           34.3          (R) (-) 70.0                                        2           59.8          (R) (-) 75.0                                        3           96.2          (R) (-) 93.2                                        4           39.8          (R) (-) 90.7                                        5           55.8          (R) (-) 85.7                                        6           85.4          (R) (-) 91.8                                        7           44.0          (R) (-) 89.8                                        8           40.2          (R) (-) 71.3                                        9           42.8          (S) (+) 86.9                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 29

Synthesis of (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol

A 10 l reaction vessel was charged with 110 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diacetoxy-2-propanol, 11 g of Lipase made bySEIKAGAKU CORPORATION, (derived from Rhizopus delemar, Enzyme No. 3),2.8 l of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5) and 2.8 l of cyclohexane. Theresulting mixture was stirred at 30° C. for 47 hours. The obtainedreaction mixture was extracted twice with 3 l of ethyl acetate and theorganic layers were combined and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate.The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to give 90 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.69-7.65 (1H, m), 6.92 (1H, t, J=5.37Hz), 6.80 (1H, t, J=2.93 Hz), 4.52 (2H, s), 3.97 (1H, d, J=3.42 Hz),3.80 (1H, d, J=3.42 Hz), 3.91 (1H, s), 2.00 (3H, s)

IR; ν cm⁻¹ : 3420, 1711, 1501, 1240, 1055, 970, 847

α!_(D) ²⁵ -4.72° (c=1.02, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 98.2% ee

m.p.: 52°-53° C.

EXAMPLE 30

Synthesis of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol

To a solution wherein 104 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol was dissolved in1000 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added 55.7 g of triethylamine at atemperature of -10° to 0° C., and thereto was added dropwise 117 g ofmethanesulfonyl acid chloride dissolved in 400 ml of tetrahydrofuranover 30 minutes. After the resulting liquid was stirred at the sametemperature for 1 hour, the reaction mixture was poured into 500 ml ofwater and extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate-layer wasdried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was removed. Theobtained residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 130 g of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-3-methane-sulfonyloxy-2-propanol.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.73-7.67 (1H, m), 6.85 (1H, t, J=2.44Hz), 6.82 (1H, t, J=6.35 Hz), 4.63-4.55 (4H, m), 3.05 (1H, s), 3.03 (3H,s), 2.04 (3H, s)

IR; ν cm⁻¹ : 3500, 1740, 1500, 1355, 1175, 970, 845

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-11.7° (c=1.01, CH₃ OH)

EXAMPLE 31

Synthesis of (S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanol

In 250 ml of toluene was dissolved 50 g of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol andthereto was added 250 ml of 20% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxideand then the resulting liquid was stirred at room temperature for 12hours. A toluene-layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extractedthree times with 100 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic layers werecombined and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent wasremoved. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gelto give 21 g of (S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanol. Theoptical purity thereof was determined by HPLC analysis (column:CHIRALPAK AS made by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., eluent:n-hexane/isopropanol=98/2, detection wavelength: 254 nm, flow rate: 1.2ml/min).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.43-7.37 (1H, m), 6.91-6.79 (2H, m),4.04-4.00 (1H, m), 3.93-3.88 (1H, m), 3.30 (1H, d, J=4.89 Hz), 2.84 (1H,d, J=5.37 Hz) 1.89-1.85 (1H, m)

IR; ν cm⁻¹ : 3450, 1620, 1510, 1270, 1040, 965, 850

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-39.2° (c=1.02, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 95.2% ee

EXAMPLE 32

Synthesis of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol

A 2 l reaction vessel was charged with 10 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diacetoxy-2-propanol, 2 g of Lipase AP-6(made by Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., derived from Aspergillus niger,Enzyme No. 12), 500 ml of 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and 500 ml ofcyclohexane. The resulting mixture was stirred at 30° C. for 24 hours.The reaction liquid was extracted three times with 1000 ml of ethylacetate and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removedunder reduced pressure and the residue was purified by columnchromatography on silica gel (n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/10) to give 6.6 gof 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl ₃) δ ppm: 7.73-7.68 (1H, m), 6.92 (1H, t, J=8.11Hz), 6.79 (1H, t, J=2.93 Hz), 4.13 (2H, d, J=12.21 Hz), 3.80 (3H, t,J=11.23 Hz)

IR; ν cm⁻¹ : 3382, 1622, 1503, 1123, 1071, 994, 968, 851

m.p.: 58°-59° C.

EXAMPLE 33

Synthesis of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol

In a 200 ml reaction vessel, 10 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diacetoxy-2-propanol was dissolved in 30 mlof toluene and thereto was added 30 ml of 30% aqueous KOH solution Theresulting liquid was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours and more.Then a toluene-layer and an aqueous layer were separated from each otherand the aqueous layer was extracted twice with 50 ml of ethyl acetate.The organic layer was washed with brine and then dried over anhydroussodium sulfate. The solvent was removed therefrom and the residue waspurified in the same manner as in Example 32 to give 6.5 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol.

EXAMPLE 34

Synthesis of (S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol

A 300 ml reaction vessel was charged with 5 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol, 100 ml of diisopropanol, 2.45ml of acetic anhydride and 5 g of Novozym 435 made by NOVO NORDISK, Ltd.(derived from Candida antarctica, Enzyme No. 24). The resulting mixturewas stirred at 30° C. for 15 hours. After 10 ml of water was addedthereto, the reaction liquid was filtered to remove the enzyme. Anorganic layer of the filtrate was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfateand the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue waspurified by column chromatography on silica gel (n-hexane/ethylacetate=1/1) to give 1 g of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol. The optical puritythereof was 8% ee.

EXAMPLE 35

Each test tube was charged with 100 mg of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, 10 mg of Lipase D(Enzyme No. 6), 0.9 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5) and each 0.1 ml ofthe organic solvents shown in Table 6. The test tube was shaken at 30°C. for 16 hours. Then, thereto was added 5 ml of ethyl acetate and theresulting liquid was extracted. The solvent was removed under reducedpressure to give an oily residue. The oily residue was dissolved inmethanol and HPLC analysis was carried out. Each ratio of the formed(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol (mono ester),2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol (triol) and the residualsubstrate (diester) and an optical purity of the formed monoester wereshown in Table 6. (The conditions for carrying out the HPLCanalysis/column: CHIRALPAK AD (0.46 mm×25 cm) made by Daicel ChemicalIndustries, Ltd., eluent: n-hexane/ethanol=9/1, detection wavelength:254 nm, flow rate: 1.2 ml/min, temperature of the column: roomtemperature, elution time: 7.8 minutes (the diester), 12.3 minutes ((S)monoester), 17.4 minutes ((R) monoester) and 22.0 minutes (triol)).

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                                      Diester Monoester Monoester                                                                            Triol                                  Added Organic Solvent                                                                       (%)     (%)       (% ee) (%)                                    ______________________________________                                        Diisopropyl ether                                                                           50.07   48.83     90.89  1.10                                   n-Hexane      51.34   47.36     92.95  1.30                                   Cyclohexane   37.09   61.26     96.29  1.65                                   n-Heptane     45.27   53.09     94.77  1.64                                   n-Octane      42.17   56.43     87.89  1.41                                   n-Decane      45.17   53.36     91.15  1.47                                   Petroleum ether                                                                             46.44   52.47     90.57  1.09                                   Benzene       43.84   54.84     92.13  1.33                                   Toluene       49.10   49.58     91.21  1.33                                   Chloroform    48.02   50.19     92.09  1.78                                   Methylcyclohexane                                                                           45.06   53.86     94.90  1.08                                   Isooctane     47.87   51.09     94.64  1.04                                   None          52.46   46.57     89.13  0.97                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 36

Each test tube was charged with 20 mg of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, each 2 mg of theenzymes shown in Tables 1 and 2 and 1 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5).The test tube was shaken at 30° C. for 16 hours. Then, thereto was added5 ml of ethyl acetate and the resulting liquid was extracted. Thesolvent was removed under reduced pressure to give an oily residue. Theoily residue was dissolved in methanol and HPLC analysis was carried outin the same manner as in Example 35. Each ratio of the formed2-(2,4-difluoro-phenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol (monoester),2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol (triol) and the residualsubstrate (diester) and an optical purity of the formed monoester wereshown in Table 7.

                  TABLE 7                                                         ______________________________________                                                   Diester Monoester  Monoester                                                                            Triol                                    Enzyme No. (%)     (%)        (% ee) (%)                                      ______________________________________                                        11         72.61   22.58      (R) 44.24                                                                            4.81                                     12         63.75   27.75      (R) 45.73                                                                            8.50                                     13         42.06   57.72      (R) 96.78                                                                            0.21                                     14         0.04    8.04       (R) 67.45                                                                            91.93                                    2          1.03    94.47      (R) 97.41                                                                            4.50                                     4          65.66   34.17      (R) 97.49                                                                            0.17                                     5          35.90   63.65      (R) 97.80                                                                            0.45                                     6          26.15   72.97      (R) 97.53                                                                            0.88                                     15         20.80   78.35      (R) 97.42                                                                            0.85                                     16         85.41   14.39      (R) 95.66                                                                            0.20                                     17         99.87   0.31       (S) 23.16                                                                            0                                        18         71.38   28.56      (R) 97.65                                                                            0.06                                     19         35.89   58.45      (R) 87.75                                                                            5.66                                     20         2.64    5.21       (R) 76.56                                                                            92.15                                    21         0       14.27      (R) 95.37                                                                            85.73                                    22         81.79   17.13      (S) 48.29                                                                            1.08                                     10         0.59    14.66      (R) 10.55                                                                            84.75                                    23         89.56   9.65       (S) 72.29                                                                            0.79                                     24         94.51   5.00       (S) 12.45                                                                            0.48                                     25         98.17   1.83       (R) 44.11                                                                            0                                        26         90.73   8.65       (S) 72.42                                                                            0.62                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 37

Synthesis of (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-propionyloxy-1,2-propanediol

A 200 ml reaction vessel was charged with 3 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-dipropionyloxy-2-propanol, 200 mg of Lipase Dmade by Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rhizpus delemer,Enzyme No. 6), 100 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5) and 10 ml ofcyclohexane. The resulting mixture was stirred at 30° C. to react for 18hours. After the reaction liquid was extracted three times with 50 ml ofethylacetate, the organic layers were combined and the combined organiclayer was washed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonateand with saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 1.55 g of oily(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-propionyloxy-1,2-propanediol. An opticalpurity thereof was determined in the same manner as in Example 35.(Elution time: 16.7 minutes ((R)-form) and 13.5 minutes ((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.69-7.63 (1H, m), 6.93-6.89 (1H, m),6.83-6.77 (1H, m), 4.57-4.50 (2H, q), 3.99-3.96 (2H, d), 3.80-3.77 (1H,d), 2.38 (1H, s), 2.29-2.22 (2H, m), 1.04-1.00 (3H, t)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-4.40° (C=1.011, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 84.6% ee

EXAMPLE 38

Synthesis of (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-n-butyryloxy-1,2-propanediol

A 200 ml reaction vessel was charged with 2 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-di-n-butyryloxy-2-propanol, 100 mg of LipaseD made by Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rhizopus delemer,Enzyme No. 6) and 100 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5). The resultingmixture was stirred at 30° C. to react for 18 hours. After the reactionliquid was extracted three times with 50 ml of ethyl acetate, theorganic layers were combined and the combined organic layer was washedwith saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonate and withsaturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride and further dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=3/2) to give 1.56 g of oily(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-n-butyryloxy-1,2-propanediol. An opticalpurity thereof was determined in the same manner as Example 35. (Elutiontime: 16.6 minutes ((R)-form) and 12.9 minutes ((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.67-7.64 (1H, m), 6.92-6.89 (1H, m),6.82-6.77 (1H, m), 4.58-4.51 (2H, q), 4.02 (1H, s), 3.98-3.95 (1H, d),3.79-3.76 (1H, d), 2.36 (1H, s), 2.23-2.19 (2H, m), 1.54-1.48 (2H, q),0.84-0.81 (3H, t)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-7.02° (C=0.997, CH₃ OH)

Optical Purity: 86.4% ee

EXAMPLE 39

Synthesis of (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-n-pentanoyloxy-1,2-propanediol

A 200 ml reaction vessel was charged with 2 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-di-n-pentanoyloxy-2-propanol, 100 mg ofLipase D made by Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rhizopusdelemer, Enzyme No. 6) and 100 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5). Theresulting mixture was stirred at 30° C. to react for 18 hours. After thereaction liquid was extracted three times with 50 ml of ethyl acetate,the organic layers were combined and the combined organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonate and withsaturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride and further dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=3/2) to give 1.01 g of oily(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-n-pentanoyloxy-1,2-propanediol. An opticalpurity thereof was determined in the same manner as Example 35. (Elutiontime: 13.7 minutes ((R)-form) and 11.1 minutes ((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.67-7.64 (1H, m), 6.93-6.89 (1H, m),6.83-6.77 (1H, m), 4.58-4.51 (2H, q), 4.05 (1H, s), 3.98-3.95 (1H, d),3.77-3.76 (1H, d), 2.35 (1H, s), 2.25-2.21 (2H, t), 1.47-1.43 (2H, t),1.23-1.19 (2H, q), 0.85-0.82 (3H, t)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-6.28° (C=0.987, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 92.1% ee

EXAMPLE 40

Synthesis of (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol

A 200 ml reaction vessel was charged with 2 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, 100 mg of LipaseD made by Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rhizopus delemer,Enzyme No. 6), 90 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5) and 10 ml ofcyclohexane. The resulting mixture was stirred at 30° C. to react for 18hours. After the reaction liquid was extracted three times with 50 ml ofethyl acetate, the organic layers were combined and the combined organiclayer was washed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonateand with saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride and furtherdried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed underreduced pressure and the residue was purified by means of columnchromatography on silica gel (eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=3/2) togive 1.51 g of oily(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol. An opticalpurity thereof was determined in the same manner as Example 35.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.69-7.66 (1H, m), 6.91-6.87 (1H, m),6.78-6.77 (1H, m), 4.54-4.45 (3H, m), 3.97-3.78 (2H, dd), 2.49-2.42 (1H,m), 1.01-0.99 (6H, m)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-7.04° (C=1.00, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 96.1% ee

EXAMPLE 41

Synthesis of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-propionyloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol

Into a solution wherein 0.5 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-propionyloxy-1,2-propanediol obtained inExample 37 was dissolved in 5 ml of ethyl acetate was added dropwise0.66 g of methanesulfonyl chloride at a temperature of 0° to 5° C., andthereto was added dropwise 0.46 g of pyridine at a temperature of 0° to5° C. After dropping, the resulting liquid was stirred at roomtemperature for 16 hours. To the reaction mixture was added 20 ml of 1Nhydrochloric acid and an organic layer separated. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate andwith saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride, and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 0.53 g of oily(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-propionyloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol.An optical purity thereof was determined in the same manner as inExample 35. (Elution time: 24.3 minutes ((R)-form) and 26.9 minutes((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.73-7.67 (1H, m), 6.97-6.93 (1H, m),6.84-6.81 (1H, m), 4.60-4.46 (4H, dd), 3.03 (3H, s), 2.32-2.26 (2H, q),1.07-1.03 (3H, t)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-8.04° (C=1.008, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 83.5% ee

EXAMPLE 42

Synthesis of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-n-butyryloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol

Into a solution wherein 0.3 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-n-butyryloxy1,2-propanediol obtained inExample 38 was dissolved in 3 ml of ethyl acetate was added dropwise 374mg of methanesulfonyl chloride at a temperature of 0° to 5° C., andthereto was added dropwise 260 mg of pyridine at a temperature of 0° to5° C. After dropping, the resulting liquid was stirred at roomtemperature for 16 hours. To the reaction mixture was added 10 ml of 1Nhydrochloric acid and an organic layer separated. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate andwith saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride, and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 0.35 g of oily(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-n-butyryloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol.An optical purity thereof was determined in the same manner as inExample 35. (Elution time: 21.9 minutes ((R)-form) and 23.8 minutes((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.73-7.67 (1H, m), 6.97-6.92 (1H, m),6.86-6.80 (1H, m), 4.58-4.48 (4H, q), 3.92 (1H, s), 3.04 (3H, s),2.26-2.23 (2H, m), 1.57-1.51 (2H, q), 0.87-0.84 (3H, t)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-9.07° (C=0.937, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 85.2% ee

EXAMPLE 43

Synthesis of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-n-pentanolyloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol

Into a solution wherein 0.3 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-n-pentanolyloxy-1,2-propanediol obtained inExample 39 was dissolved in 3 ml of ethyl acetate was added dropwise 356mg of methanesulfonyl chloride at a temperature of 0° to 5° C., andthereto was added dropwise 247 mg of pyridine at a temperature of 0° C.to 5° C. After dropping, the resulting liquid was stirred at roomtemperature for 16 hours. To the reaction mixture was added 10 ml of 1Nhydrochloric acid and an organic layer separated. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate andwith saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride, and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 0.31 g of oily(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-n-pentanolyloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol.An optical purity thereof was determined in the same manner as inExample 35. (Elution time: 19.1 minutes ((R)-form) and 21.1 minutes((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.71-7.68 (1H, m), 6.96-6.93 (1H, m),6.86-6.80 (1H, m), 4.57-4.48 (4H, q), 3.68 (1H, s), 3.04 (1H, s),2.28-2.24 (2H, t), 1.50-1.46 (2H, t), 1.25-1.20 (2H, q), 0.87-0.83 (3H,t)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-7.50° (C=0.960, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 91.0% ee

EXAMPLE 44

Synthesis of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol

Into a solution wherein 12 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol obtained inExample 40 was dissolved in 120 ml of ethyl acetate was added dropwise10 g of methanesulfonyl chloride at a temperature of 0° to 5° C., andthereto was added dropwise 6.92 g of pyridine at a temperature of 0° to5° C. After dropping, the resulting liquid was stirred at roomtemperature for 16 hours. To the reaction mixture was added 400 ml of 1Nhydrochloric acid and an organic layer separated. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate andwith saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride, and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 15.2 g of oily(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanol.An optical purity thereof was determined in the same manner as inExample 35. (Elution time: 22.5 minutes ((R)-form) and 24.7 minutes((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.71-7.68 (1H, m), 6.96-6.92 (1H, m),6.85-6.81 (1H, m), 4.59-4.47 (4H, m), 3.04 (3H, s), 2.51-2.48 (1H, m),1.06-1.04 (6H, m)

Optical Purity: 96.0% ee

EXAMPLE 45

Synthesis of (S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanol

In 14 ml of methanol was dissolved 4.06 g of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-methanesulfonyloxy-2-propanolobtained in Example 44. After a temperature of the resulting liquid waskept at 5° C., 14 ml of aqueous solution of 2N sodium hydroxide wasadded dropwise thereto with cooling at 15° C. or below. After dropping,the resulting liquid was stirred at a temperature of 10° to 15° C. for 2hours. Thereto 1N hydrochloric acid was added until the liquid wasadjusted to pH 7 and methanol was removed under reduced pressure. To theresidue was added ethyl acetate to extract. The resulting organic layerwas washed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride. Thesolvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purifiedby column chromatography on silica gel (eluent: n-hexane/ethylacetate=1/1) to give 2.04 g of oily(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-1-propanol. An optical puritythereof was determined in the same manner as in Example 35. (Elutiontime: 9.24 minutes ((S)-form) and 10.7 minutes ((R)-form)).

Optical purity: 96. 0% ee

EXAMPLE 46

Synthesis of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)propane-1,2-diol

In 10 ml of methanol was dissolved 8.8 g of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-methane-sulfonyloxy-2-propanolobtained in Example 44 and thereto 7.95 g of sodium carbonate and 3.45 gof 1,2,4-triazole were added and allowed to reflux for 5 hours. Aftermethanol was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was extractedwith ethyl acetate to give oily substance. Thereto was added water andthe resulting crystal was collected. The crystal was furtherrecrystallized from acetonitrile to give 3.65 g(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H,1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)propane-1,2-diol.An optical purity thereof was determined in the same manner as inExample 35. (Elution time: 38.9 minutes ((S)-form) and 44.4 minutes((R)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) ppm: 8.29 (1H, s), 7.70 (1H, s), 7.40-7.34(1H, m), 7.14-7.12 (1H, t), 6.95-6.91 (1H, t), 5.77 (1H, s), 5.11-5.08(1H, t), 4.57 (2H, s), 3.68-3.62 (2H, m)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-72.90° (C=1.015, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 100% ee

EXAMPLE 47

Six 100 ml reaction vessels were prepared, each of which was chargedwith 5 g of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, 45 mlof water, 5 ml of methylcyclohexane and 500 mg of Lipase D made by AmanoPharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rizopus delemter, Enzyme No. 6).Each temperature of the vessles was kept at 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35° and40° C., respectively. Each of the resulting mixture was adjusted to pH 5by controlling with sodium hydrate and allowed to react for 48 hours.After the reaction, each reaction mixture was extracted with ethylacetate and each organic layer was washed with saturated aqueoussolution with sodium hydrogencarbonate and with saturated aqueoussolution with sodium chloride. The organic layer was dried overanhydrous sulfate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure.The residue was dissolved in methanol and HPLC analysis was carried outin the same manner as in Example 35. Each ratio of the formed(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2-propanediol (monoester),2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol (triol) and the residualsubstrate (diester) and an optical purity of the formed monoester wereshown in Table 8.

                  TABLE 8                                                         ______________________________________                                        Reaction temperature                                                                      Diester Monoester  Monoester                                                                            Triol                                   (°C.)                                                                              (%)     (%)        (% ee) (%)                                     ______________________________________                                        15          8.75    87.37      98.23  3.88                                    20          7.35    85.41      97.32  7.24                                    25          7.30    86.80      97.67  5.90                                    30          11.39   82.91      95.26  5.71                                    35          12.86   82.36      94.53  4.78                                    40          35.01   62.06      86.49  2.94                                    ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 48

Three 100 ml reaction vessels were prepared, each of which was chargedwith 5 g of 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, 45 mlof water, 5 ml of methylcyclohexane and Lipase D made by AmanoPharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rizopus delemter, Enzyme No. 6).Each temperature of the vessels was kept at 6°, 10° and 15° C. ,respectively. Each of the resulting mixture was adjusted to pH 5.5 bycontrolling with sodium hydrate and allowed to react for 48 hours. Afterthe reaction, each reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate andeach organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous solution withsodium hydrogencarbonate and with saturated aqueous solution with sodiumchloride. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate andthe solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue wasdissolved in methanol and HPLC analysis was carried out in the samemanner as in Example 35. Each ratio of the formed(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol (monoester),2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol (triol) and the residualsubstrate (diester) and an optical purity of the formed monoester wereshown in Table 9.

                  TABLE 9                                                         ______________________________________                                        Reaction temperature                                                                       Diester Monoester Monoester                                                                             Triol                                  (°C.) (%)     (%)       (% ee)  (%)                                    ______________________________________                                         6           17.59   80.25     96.72   2.16                                   10           6.35    89.84     97.26   3.61                                   15           4.94    89.32     97.27   5.74                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 49

Stability of monoester (acetoxy form) to pH

Each test tube equipped with a closure was charged with 20 mg of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol (67.6% ee) and 1 mlof 100 mM each kind of buffer having a pH of 4 to 9 was added theretoand each test tube was shaken at 30° C. for 18 hours. Thereto was added3 ml of ethyl acetate to extract and the solvent was removed underreduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in methanol and HPLCanalysis was carried out in the same manner as in Example 35. An opticalpurity (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-acetoxy-1,2-propanediol and a ratioof the formed 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol (triol) wereshown in Table 10. (Eluent time: 14.9 minutes ((S)-monoester), 16.5minutes ((R)-monoester) and 22.0 minutes (triol).

                  TABLE 10                                                        ______________________________________                                        pH(Buffer)       Monoester(% ee)                                                                           Triol(%)                                         ______________________________________                                        pH 4(Acetate Buffer)                                                                           65.0        0.28                                             pH 5(Acetate Buffer)                                                                           61.8        0.22                                             pH 6(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         36.6        1.42                                             pH 7(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         1.2         12.1                                             pH 8(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         0.4         32.4                                             pH 9(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         1.6         9.8                                              ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 50

Stability of monoester (isobutyryloxy form) to pH

Each test tube equipped with a closure was charged with 20 mg of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol (46.2% ee)and 1 ml of 100 mM each kind of buffer having a pH of 4 to 9 was addedthereto and each test tube was shaken at 30° C. for 18 hours. Theretowas added 3 ml of ethyl acetate to extract and the solvent was removedunder reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in methanol and HPLCanalysis was carried out in the same manner as in Example 35. An opticalpurity (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol(monoester) and a ratio of the formed2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol (triol) were shown in Table11.

                  TABLE 11                                                        ______________________________________                                        pH(Buffer)       Monoester(% ee)                                                                           Triol(%)                                         ______________________________________                                        pH 4(Acetate Buffer)                                                                           46.0        N.D.                                             pH 5(Acetate Buffer)                                                                           45.4        N.D.                                             pH 6(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         43.6        N.D.                                             pH 7(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         21.4        0.17                                             pH 8(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         2.6         0.80                                             pH 9(Phosphate Buffer)                                                                         0.6         1.38                                             ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 51

Synthesis of (-)-2-phenyl-1,3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol

A 100 ml reaction vessel was charged with 1 g of2-phenyl-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol, 100 mg of Lipase D made byAmano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (derived from Rizopus delemer, Enzyme No.6), 45 ml of 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5) and 5 ml of cyclohexane and themixture was stirred at 30° C. and allowed to react for 5 hours. Afterthe resulting liquid was extracted three times with 50 ml of ethylacetate, the organic layers were combined and washed with saturatedaqueous solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate and with saturatedaqueous solution with sodium chloride and dried over anhydrous sodiumsulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residuewas purified by column chromatography on silica gel (elution:n-hexane/ethyl acetate=1/1) to give 0.17 g of oily(-)-2-phenyl-1,3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol. An optical puritythereof was determined in the same manner as in Example 35. (Elutiontime: 19.3 minutes ((+)-form) and 27.6 minutes ((-)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHZ, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.48-7.46 (2H, m), 7.39-7.37 (2H, m),7.35-7.28 (1H, m), 4.51-4.35 (2H, dd), 3.83-3.72 (2H, m), 3.38 (1H, s),2.56-2.49 (1H, m), 1.71 (1H, s), 1.09-1.06 (6H, m)

α!_(D) ²⁵ =-13.99° (C=1.00, CH₃ OH)

Optical purity: 93.7% ee

EXAMPLES 52 to 63

The same procedure as in Example 51 was repeated except that as astarting substance of diester a compound shown in Table 12 was employinginstead of 2-phenyl-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol to give acorresponding monoester. Each of a yield, a specific rotation, anoptical purity and ¹ H-NMR of the resulting monoester were summarized inTables 13 and 14, respectively.

                  TABLE 12                                                        ______________________________________                                        Starting Substance of Diester                                                 ______________________________________                                        Ex. 52  2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                     Ex. 53  2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                     Ex. 54  2-(4-Methylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                     Ex. 55  2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                    Ex. 56  2-(4-Biphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                         Ex. 57  2-(4-t-Butylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                    Ex. 58  2-(2-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                     Ex. 59  2-(2-Methylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                     Ex. 60  2-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                 Ex. 61  2-(2,4-Dimethylphenyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                 Ex. 62  2-(1-Naphthyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                         Ex. 63  2-(2-Naphthyl)-1,3-diisobutyryloxy-2-propanol                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 13                                                        ______________________________________                                                                     Optical                                                                             Elution time                               Ex.     Yeild  Specific Rotation                                                                           purity                                                                              of (+)-form/                               No.     (g)    (CH.sub.3 OH) (%ee) (-)-form(min.)                             ______________________________________                                        52      0.71   -10.6 (c = 1.000)                                                                           95.3  21.5/23.2                                  53      0.68   -9.52 (c = 0.987)                                                                           95.7  23.7/24.6                                  54      0.49   -0.49 (c = 0.934)                                                                           93.8  21.4/31.2                                  55      0.52   -9.01 (c = 0.976)                                                                           78.4  33.8/45.3                                  56      0.59   -7.46 (c = 0.938)                                                                           91.1  49.2/42.6                                  57      0.55   -9.83 (c = 0.935)                                                                           96.9  13.7/11.6                                  58      0.64   -8.87 (c = 0.947)                                                                           80.0  12.4/22.1                                  59      0.16   -5.77 (c = 0.970)                                                                           83.8  12.3/19.0                                  60      0.11   -8.60 (c = 0.976)                                                                           75.4  12.9/15.5                                  61      0.063  -3.42 (c = 0.934)                                                                           89.7  11.8/17.6                                  62      0.61   -12.8 (c = 0.923)                                                                           58.0  25.2/21.8                                  63      0.66   -5.41 (c = 0.924)                                                                           97.6  32.0/33.9                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 14                                                        ______________________________________                                        Ex.                                                                           No.  .sup.1 H-NMR(400MHz, CDCl.sub.3) δ ppm                             ______________________________________                                        52   7.47-7.42(2H, m), 7.08-7.03(2H, m), 4.48-4.33(2H, dd),                        3.80-3.68(2H, m), 3.47(1H, s), 2.56-2.49(1H, m), 1.78                         (1H, s), 1.09-1.07(6H, m)                                                53   7.43-7.33(4H, dd), 4.48-4.33(2H, dd), 3.79-3.67(2H, m),                       3.42(1H, s), 2.56-2.49(1H, m), 1.67(1H, s), 1.10-1.08(6H, m)             54   7.36-7.17(4H, dd), 4.48-4.32(2H, dd), 3.80-3.71(2H, m),                       3.31(1H, s), 2.56-2.49(1H, m), 2.34(3H, s), 1.75(1H, s),                      1.11-1.08(6H, m)                                                         55   7.40-6.88(4H, dd), 4.48-4.32(2H, dd), 3.81(3H, s),                            3.79-3.70(2H, m), 3.27(1H, s), 2.57-2.50(1H, m), 2.34                         (1H, s), 1.11-1.09(6H, m)                                                56   7.62-7.53(6H, m), 7.46-7.42(2H, m), 7.37-7.34(1H, m),                         4.55-4.39(2H, dd), 3.87-3.77(2H, m), 3.37(1H, s),                             2.59-2.52(IH, m), 1.62(1H, s), 1.12-1.09(6H, m)                          57   7.39(4H, m), 4.51-4.33(2H, dd), 3.82-3.74(2H, m),                             3.23(1H, s), 2.57-2.50(1H, m), 2.25(1H, s), 1.31(9H, s),                      1.10-1.08(6H, m)                                                         58   7.81-7.79(1H, m), 7.36-7.34(1H, m), 7.37-7.23(2H, m),                         4.93-4.67(2H, dd), 4.46(1H, s), 4.21-3.94(2H, dd),                            2.45-2.36(1H, m), 0.96-0.88(6H, m)                                       59   7.45-7.43(1H, m), 7.21-7.15(3H, m), 4.64-4.50(2H, dd),                        3.93-3.84(2H, m), 3.68(1H, s), 2.55(3H, s), 2.51-2.44(4H, m),                 1.04-0.99(6H, m), 2.45-2.36(1H, m), 0.96-0.88(6H, m)                     60   7.78-7.76(1H, d), 7.38(1H, d), 7.29-7.26(1H, m), 4.89-4.66                    (2H, dd), 4.48(1H, s), 4.18-4.09(1H, m), 3.92-3.04(1H, m),                    2.38-2.32(1H, m), 1.66(1H, m), 0.99-0.92(6H, m)                          61   7.32-7.30(1H, d), 6.99-6.97(1H, d), 4.61-4.47(2H, dd),                        3.90-3.84(2H, m), 2.55-2.46(1H, m), 2.51(3H, s), 2.29(3H, s),                 1.07-1.02(6H, m)                                                         62   8.67-8.65(1H, d), 7.88-7.81(2H, m), 7.61-7.59(1H, m),                         7.54-7.41(3H, m), 4.87-4.70(2H, dd), 4.16-4.09(H, m),                         3.70(1H, s), 2.52-2.47(1H, m), 1.58(1H, s), 1.28-1.24(1H, m),            63   7.97-7.53(1H, m), 7.85-7.81(2H, m), 7.55-7.53(1H, m),                         7.50-7.46(3H, m), 4.59-4.45(2H, dd), 3.90-3.81(2H, m), 3.55                   (1H, s), 2.54-2.47(1H, m), 1.27-1.22(1H, m), 1.07-1.04(5H,               ______________________________________                                             m)                                                                   

EXAMPLE 64

Synthesis of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyloxy-2-propanol

Into a solution wherein 1 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-isobutyryloxy-1,2-propanediol obtained inExample 40 was dissolved in 2 ml of ethyl acetate was added dropwise 1ml of tetrahydrofuran wherein 1.26 g p-toluenesulfonyl acid chloride wasdissolved at a temperature of 0° to 5° C., and furthermore, thereto wasadded dropwise 0.52 g of pyridine at a temperature of 0° to 5° C. Afterthe dropping, the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for16 hours. To thus obtained liquid was added 10 ml of 1N hydrochloricacid and the liquid was subject to a separation. The organic layer waswashed with saturated aqueous solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate andwith saturated aqueous solution with sodium chloride, and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressureand the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate=5/2) to give 1.4 g of oily(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-isobutyryloxy-3-(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyloxy-2-propanol.An optical purity thereof was determined in the same manner as inExample 35. (Elution time: 23.1 minutes ((R)-form) and 33.7 minutes((S)-form)).

¹ H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.72-7.40 (2H, d), 7.66-7.59 (1H, m),7.33-7.31 (2H, d), 6.91-6.86 (1H, m), 6.73-6.68 (1H, m), 4.51-4.25 (4H,m), 3.72 (1H, s), 2.45 (3H, s), 2.49-2.42 (1H, m), 1.03-0.99 (6H, m)

Optical purity: 95.6% ee

EXAMPLE 65

Synthesis of 1,3-dichloroacetoxy-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-propanol(according to Reaction formula 2)

In 30 ml dichloromethane were dissolved 3.06 g of2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,3-propanetriol and 3.79 g of triethylamineand thereto was added dropwise 3.73 g of chloroacetyl chloride at atemperature of -10° C. or below and after the dropping, allowed to reactat room temperature for 4 hours. Into the reaction liquid were added 10ml of water and 100 ml of ethyl acetate, and an organic layer wasseparated. The organic layer was washed with 1N hydrochloric acid, andfurther with water and with saturated aqueous solution with sodiumchloride. After the organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodiumsulfate, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Thus obtainedconcentrate was purified by column chromatography on silica gel(hexane/ethyl acetate=2/1) to give 5.53 g of the oily desired compound.

¹ H-NMR (400 MHZ, CDCl₃) δ ppm: 7.71-7.65 (1H, m), 6.97-6.95 (1H, m),6.93-6.81 (1H, m), 4.65-4.55 (4H, dd), 4.05 (4H, s), 3.25 (1H, s)

EXAMPLE 66

Synthesis of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)propane-1,2-diol

In 16.8 ml of tetrahydrofuran was dissolved 18.2 g of(S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,3-epoxy-2-propanol obtained in Example 45and thereto 20.3 g of potassium carbonate and 10.2 g of 1,2,4-triazolewere added and allowed to reflux for 20 hours. The reaction mixture wascooled to room temperature and thereto were added 90 ml of water and 30g of sodium chloride. The resulting liquid was extracted twice with 100ml of ethyl acetate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure andto the residue were added 80 ml of chloroform and 16 ml of n-hexane andthe resulting liquid was stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. Adepositied crystal was collected and was further recrystallized fromacetonitrile. The resulting crystal was dried under reduced pressure togive 10.8 g of(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H,1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)propane-1,2-diol(optical purity: 100% ee).

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

According to the present invention, an optical active 2-arylglycerolderivative which is a novel and useful as a synthetic intermediate ofmedicament can be provided and furthermore,(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diolwhich is useful as an antifungal agent can be prepared.

We claim:
 1. A process for preparing an optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol, which comprises allowing amicroorganism or an enzyme selected from the group of a microorganismbelonging to Chromobacterium genus, Rhizopus genus, Mucor genus, Candidegenus, Aspergillus genus, Geotrichum genus, Pseudomonas genus, Bacillusgenus or Humicola genus, the enzyme derived from that microorganism andthe enzyme derived from porcine pancreas, to act on a2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I) therebyforming an optically active 2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol representedby the formula (VIII), wherein said microorganism or enzyme has enzymeactivity which enables formation of the optically active2-aryl-3-acyloxy-1,2-propanediol represented by the formula (VIII):##STR57## wherein Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted, R is anormal chain or branched chain alkyl group, a normal or branched chainalkenyl group which may be substituted or an aryl group which may besubstituted, by stereospecific hydrolysis of an2-aryl-1,3-diacyloxy-2-propanol represented by the formula (I):##STR58## wherein each of Ar and R is the same as defined above.
 2. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein Ar is 2,4-difluorophenyl group, R is a normalchain or branched chain alkyl group, or phenyl group.
 3. The process ofclaim 2 wherein R is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl,n-hexyl, n-heptyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, chloromethyl, β-chloroethyl orγ-chloropropyl group.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein R is isopropylgroup.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein Ar is phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl,4-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-biphenyl,4-tert-butylphenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-methylphenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl,2,4-difluorophenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl group.6. The process of claim 1 wherein the stereospecific hydrolysis iscarried out in the presence of an organic solvent.
 7. The process ofclaim 6 wherein the organic solvent is a hydrocarbon.
 8. The process ofclaim 6 wherein the stereospecific hydrolysis is carried out at 15° C.or below.
 9. The process of claim 1 wherein the stereospecifichydrolysis is carried out at pH 6 or below.